THE owner of Welsh soccer champs TNS has outlined what he dubs compelling reasons why Liverpool should be handed the chance to defend their Champions League trophy next season ... at his own team's expense.

Mike Harris has offered Liverpool the olive branch of a one-off pre-qualifier against his Welsh Premier table-toppers in what he anticipates would be a Millennium Stadium or Anfield sell-out this summer.

The move, Harris argues, is the only get-out UEFA and the English FA have as they desperately seek a route for Liverpool to enter next season's Champions League.

Harris declares a game between the champions of Europe and the champions of Wales is the compromise forward, given the special bond between Merseyside and Mid and North Wales.

In return for probably gifting their Euro spot to Liverpool, Harris maintains the rewards for Welsh football would be enormous.

He says the one-off Euro game against Steven Gerrard's team would give the Welsh Premier league unprecedented TV, radio and newspaper exposure, leading to massive sponsorship spin-offs.

On top of that, the #1m-plus gate receipts TNS could net from such a high-profile glamour game would set them up for the next few years.

Top-level behind-the-scenes moves are taking place as soccer bigwigs try to find a solution to Liverpool being barred from defending their trophy because they finished outside the Premiership top four.

But Harris argued, "They can't expand the competition and it would be wrong to deny Everton, or anybody else, from their right to enter.

"Thus, the only solution I can see is an extra pre-qualifying game between Liverpool and one of the teams who have already reached the Champions League. The winners of that one-off tie would go through to the next qualifying stage.

"Given the closeness between England and Wales, and our own club and Liverpool, the logical move is for TNS to be that team who plays them.

"There would have to be certain criteria set down, but in principle we're not against the idea. In fact, we think it could work and we will have a conversation about it with the Welsh FA."

Harris continued, "Liverpool have to be given the opportunity to defend their trophy, but it needs to be done in a way which doesn't devalue the competition.

"I would suggest a one-off, competitive game, either at Anfield or preferably the Millennium Stadium.

"I appreciate there is a vast gulf in the standards between the Premiership and the Welsh Premier. But, as they say in football, anything can happen in a one-off.

"A Champions League game like TNS v Liverpool would raise the profile of our league as never before, creating huge media interest.

"That in turn would satisfy our own club sponsors and it would put the league in a much better bargaining position when it came to seeking new sponsors.

"Ours is an emerging national league which needs more profile than it gets. One of the problems is that we are in the shadow of the Premiership, which understandably gains great publicity.

"This is the opportunity for the soccer authorities of England, Wales and Europe to give the Welsh Premier a real shot in the arm."

Harris conceded, "Of course a match like this would be financially rewarding for TNS.

"For example, perhaps we should keep the gate receipts as a form of 'compensation' for potentially giving up our place to Liverpool.

"But that is not the main reason behind this. More important is the profile the match could gain for the League.

"The spin-offs down the line would be more important than any short-term gain for TNS.

"In terms of us losing our spot, well we would still be in the Champions League. Because we are talking about an extra game, we would be one further round away from our dream of reaching the group stages proper.

"But we would be guaranteed a big game. It would definitely sell-out at Anfield, but there would also be huge interest at the Millennium Stadium, too.

"This would be a great opportunity for Welsh fans to support a Welsh club in Europe. And it would be the first chance for Liverpool's brilliant supporters to watch their team since that great night in Istanbul."

Harris concluded, "One way or the other, this pre-qualifier between Liverpool and another team is the only way forward.

"Whether UEFA choose us is another matter. But it's the logical thing to do and if we are approached by Liverpool, UEFA and the Welsh FA, we would be supportive of the idea - provided the criteria we ask for is met."